a post inspired by the post inspired by my post
Christians need to take action. We need to not just give our money to causes, but to actually do something. (I always say that and do nothing, though. :( ) I'm sure nobody else gets this from reading Ezekiel 44, but to me it's clear:
"In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat, and blood, and you broke my covenant. Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary." Ez. 44:7-8
We're allowing non-Christians to do all the work while we give our tithes and offerings. Do they mean anything if we're not carrying out our duties as GOD's people?
Later on in verses 15-16, the LORD says, "But the priests, who are Levites and descendants of Zadok and who faithfully carried out the duties of my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign LORD. They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me and perform my service."
While the other Israelites were derelict of duty, the descendants of Zadok (who was a faithful minister to David, incidentally) continued to do the LORD's work. It did not matter to them that others were negligent. They followed the LORD's commands.
If only I could apply this to my own life. I think of this so often, yet consistently I am with the unfaithful. I need to find a way to take action.
"In addition to all your other detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat, and blood, and you broke my covenant. Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary." Ez. 44:7-8
We're allowing non-Christians to do all the work while we give our tithes and offerings. Do they mean anything if we're not carrying out our duties as GOD's people?
Later on in verses 15-16, the LORD says, "But the priests, who are Levites and descendants of Zadok and who faithfully carried out the duties of my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign LORD. They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me and perform my service."
While the other Israelites were derelict of duty, the descendants of Zadok (who was a faithful minister to David, incidentally) continued to do the LORD's work. It did not matter to them that others were negligent. They followed the LORD's commands.
If only I could apply this to my own life. I think of this so often, yet consistently I am with the unfaithful. I need to find a way to take action.
posted by melilotnfosco | 3:51 PM
13 Comments:
"We're allowing non-Christians to do all the work while we give our tithes and offerings. Do they mean anything if we're not carrying out our duties as GOD's people?"
that was the gist of the bono quote i was looking for. kind of puts us to shame, doesn't it?
so which was the post inspired by your post, mel? the bono post? and if so, which of your posts inspired it? i had to read the title of this post too many times & still don't think i got it :P
it's good stuff though :) -- and challenging; i know God tells us what to do in the Bible, but sometimes i want it to be more specific (e.g. "chelleybutton, go to this place to do this until this time" -- something like that;)
more specific would be So nice.
and yes, this is inspired by the bono post, which was inspired by my jubilee post.
i've preached on these same verses so many times, i need to come up with something original, but each time i don't do anything about it, so i don't spose i need anything original. there's some quote somewhere that says...nevermind, i just found it. i'll post it.
hehe :)
wouldn't it be great if God were that specific?
but i guess sometimes He wants us to figure these things out ourselves.
He sure is patient... if I were in charge, I'd probably be like, "[Sigh...] just do this! Sheesh!" ;) (good thing i'm not in charge)
i'm not a good figurer :(
so what does one do when one knows what one should do, but doesn't know how to get started?
and don't say "if you don't know where to start, start somewhere"
it's so hard. cuz you can pray and pray and have nothing come to mind. you can talk with people, but nobody ever seems to have ideas. i wish i knew the answer.
i finally know to whom i've been called. but what now?
um...you didn't give us much to go on there
i know. sorry.
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